UNCTAD believes that enhanced cooperation between the private and the public sector is essential to the effective integration of developing countries into the global economy and seeks ways to involve civil society organizations, academia, trade unions, parliamentarians and business associations in its work.

Cooperation with civil society is mutually beneficial: it helps civil society actors, empowering and enhancing their advocacy role in support of sustainable development, while adding value to the work of UNCTAD and its member States in achieving tangible development outcomes.

The Civil Society Outreach (CSO) Unit of UNCTAD is responsible for liaison and outreach to civil society. Its role is to encourage and facilitate participation and engagement of civil society in the work of UNCTAD.

News

The Civil Society Forum at UNCTAD XIII starts tomorrow. The week-long event is expected to welcome over 350 participants from 130 organizations and networks worldwide. The Forum will produce a Civil Society Declaration, to be presented to the Conference.

​Panellists and delegates at the Hearing with Civil Society and the Private Sector stressed that Civil Society's voice cannot be excluded when discussing the current sustainability challenges, financial regulation and its associated issues, and the policies on trade and investment agreements.